Miami is a fast paced community with a rapid fire news cycle. Our blog keeps you current on the most important issues affecting the tax payers of Miami-Dade county. Read, share, comment, and as always let us know what topics you want us to tackle.
Miami’s new police chief moves to fire husband and wife team after cover-up
Talk about making a splash.
Fresh from Houston, in his first 100 days as Miami’s new Police Chief, Art Acevedo has moved to fire Assistant Chief Ronald Papier — who was acting chief just a few weeks ago — and his wife, Maj. Nerly Papier, after he helped cover up an accident that she had in a police vehicle.
Ethics commission looks at Miami’s George Wysong as potential advocate
After 21 years, the advocate at the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust — the man who basically serves as the prosecutor — is leaving us. Michael Murawski has a new job: He will keep politicians and government folks in line at the new Naples Ethics Commission.
Murawski will be their first executive director starting June. 1. Congratulations, but Ladra gives him six months before he’s begging to come back just because of the sheer boredom.
Competing dog sculpture installment paints Joe Carollo’s pet park as pricey
So, remember that sculpture park of dogs and cats that Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo wants to pay almost $1 million for? You know, the one he and his wife Marjorie sprung (read: forced) on the Bayfront Park Management Trust that led to the resignation of one board member?
Well, the city’s Arts in Public Places committee has kind of taken the wind out of his sails.
Mike Mena’s Coral Gables land deal looks shady; residents ask for his head
Coral Gables Vice Mayor Mike Mena is under fire for his vote last week to sell a city-owned parcel used as a surface parking lot near the Village of Merrick Park to his bosses in a no-bid secret deal that nobody knew was coming.
Ethics complaint filed vs Alice Bravo for lobbying on county airports contract
Is a lobbyist still a lobbyist if nobody hears a sound?
Former Miami-Dade Transit Director Alice Bravo attended a meeting with other lobbyists last month with Miami-Dade Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz about a piece of a $50 million contract for design and engineering services at Miami International Airport. Bravo, who resigned from her $250,000 earlier this year, can’t lobby anyone at the county for two years after she her exit. And Diaz would have us believe that she was not there to influence him.
Miami fires code officer who refused to ‘protect’ Commissioner ADLP
The code enforcement officer who caught Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla “creating jobs” at an illegal nightclub in February was fired on Wednesday — just as she and her lawyers had predicted.
Suzanne Nicholson was terminated, purportedly, for not cooperating with the city’s alleged “investigation” into the incident in which she said Diaz de la Portilla pushed her and caused her to injure her hip. Nicholson, who has since claimed workman’s compensation, had been ordered to appear before the human resources director to make a statement on Monday.
Coral Gables Vice Mayor Mike Mena votes to sell city land to his bosses
It may be two years away, but newly-minted Coral Gables Vice Mayor Mike Mena just lost any chance he had to be re-elected in 2023.
No, it’s not just because of the condescending matter in which he dismissed resident-driven ideas from newly-elected Commissioner Rhonda Anderson, who proposed amending the zoning code to require approval and notice for “as of right” commercial developments. The Gables Insider correctly called Mena’s arguments mansplaining. It was also pathetic.
Rhonda Anderson proposes sweeping zoning reforms right off the bat
Newly-elected Coral Gables Commissioner Rhonda Anderson is already delivering on her campaign promises, proposing sweeping changes to the zoning code at her first commission meeting Tuesday.
Anderson sent Mayor Vince Lago and her colleagues a memo on May 4, just over a week after winning the April 27 runoff, detailing a bunch of suggestions that include making certain zoning changes go before the commission, as well as a moratorium of sorts on the Mediterranean bonus that allows developers more intensity for Mediterranean designed projects.
City of Miami code officer says she fears political wrath of ADLP and city allies
Terse memo gives her a direct order to make an official statement
Nevermind! Daniella Levine Cava steps back from rejection of all airport bids
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava backpedalled and ditched her old recommendation to reject all the bids for a $50 million airport contract — where a selection committee of staff had already ranked the top two firms — and start the process over.
After Political Cortadito exposed what looks like illegal lobbying by former Transportation Director Alice Bravo and political pressuring by Ralph Garcia-Toledo, Jesse Manzano and Alex Heckler — a major Democratic fundraiser with La Alcaldesa on speed dial — the mayor has backed off her shaky position and, instead, move forward with negotiations with two firms who were recommended in January by staff after a third selection process.
